US 12,446,985 B2
Connector assemblies for connecting a robotic arm with a medical end effector
Antonio Ubach, Tuscon, AZ (US); John C. Love, San Diego, CA (US); and Cara Lee Coad, Longmont, CO (US)
Assigned to NuVasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by NuVasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/610,565.
Application 18/610,565 is a continuation of application No. 17/539,587, filed on Dec. 1, 2021, granted, now 11,963,733.
Prior Publication US 2024/0216096 A1, Jul. 4, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); B25J 9/10 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 34/71 (2016.02) [A61B 17/70 (2013.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); B25J 9/1035 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00486 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for performing a surgical procedure comprising the steps of:
providing an apparatus for connecting a robotic arm with a medical end effector, the apparatus comprising:
a connector housing;
an actuation mechanism disposed within the connector housing, the actuation mechanism including a plurality of linkage members and a gear assembly coupled to the plurality of linkage members;
wherein each of the plurality of linkage members are configured to shift between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration;
wherein at least one of the plurality of linkage members includes a first linkage member having an end region;
wherein a roller member is disposed adjacent to the end region of the first linkage member;
an actuator coupled to the actuation mechanism, the actuator being configured to shift the plurality of linkage members between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration;
wherein the actuator includes a button coupled to a rack; and
an adapter coupled to the connector housing, the adapter including a plurality of alignment regions
using medical end effector to position a tool to perform a surgical procedure.